Rushing Fall Cruises in Beaugay

ELMONT, NY – e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Rushing Fall found herself alone on the front end early and simply cruised around the course to win her seasonal debut for the fourth straight year in Wednesday’s $100,000 Beaugay Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park.

Breaking from the rail under Javier Castellano as the 4/5 prohibitive favorite in the five-horse field, Rushing Fall immediately struck to the lead and ran unpressured the length of the backstretch. Behind her, the 8/5 second choice Got Stormy tracked outside of Call Me Love, then came Xenobia drafting Got Stormy’s trail and Passing Out at the rear.

Got Stormy inched closer to Rushing Fall heading into the far turn and made a bid at the top of the stretch, but the still-in-hand pacesetter had yet to unleash her turn of foot. Igniting her rocket-boosters once she straightened for home, Rushing Fall quickly distanced herself from the field and was home free.

Wrapped up at the 1/16 pole, the Chad Brown trainee crossed 2 comfortable lengths clear in a final time of 1:40.71 for the 1 1/16-mile firm inner turf route.

“You could see right away that she was battling with (Got Stormy),” Castellano said. “She was so relaxed. When I asked a little bit at the 3/16 pole, she took off again. She put me right where I wanted to be. I wrapped her up in the last part. I’m looking forward to her next race.”

Call Me Love fought back in the lane and overtook Got Stormy in midstretch for second before crossing 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Passing Out, who snuck up for third by 1 1/4 lengths. Got Stormy and Xenobia weakened in the stretch to complete the order of finish. Fifty Five, the race’s second Brown entry, was scratched.

“She is always right there and always ready,” Castellano said of Rushing Fall. “She is very consistent and I’m so happy to see she’s back the way she did it today. She improved a lot and we hope that we can have some fun for the rest of the year.”

Rushing Fall’s win was the ninth of her career and the eighth against graded stakes foes to improve her overall record to 12-9-2-0. The 5-year-old More Than Ready mare, purchased for $320,000 as a yearling, increased her lifetime earnings mark to $2,068,000 after spending the winter freshening up at Stonestreet Farm.

“I have to give a lot of credit to the crew at Stonestreet Farm,” said Brown, who won the Beaugay for the third straight time following triumphs with Homerique in 2019 and A Raving Beauty in 2018. “Ian Brennan and his team rehab a lot of our horses and they did an excellent job with her over the winter. I also give credit to (owner) Bob Edwards. He had her entered in the sale last year and he scratched her. She would’ve brought a lot of money. I’m so happy for him and his family. She came back better than ever.”

Rushing Fall returned $3.70 to win and $2.60 to place, while Call Me Love brought back $4.60 to place. There was no show betting.